Leora was born on Christmas day 1901, the daughter of John and Susanna Alton Stewart of Uniontown, Kentucky. Following the death of her mother, Leora was sent to grade school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy along with her younger sister, Cecilia. Leora attended the Academy during the years 1911-1919. At the age of 17, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on July 13, 1919. She received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Cecele on March 19, 1920.
In 1921, Sister Cecile began her ministry of organist and music teacher. She was assigned to St. Hubertus Academy in Owensboro. For 31 years, Sister continued this same ministry at Waverly, Clementsville, Rome, Fairfield, Nebraska (St. James), Louisville (St. Columba), Howardstown, Central City, Lebanon (St. Charles), Louisville (return to St. Columba), Holy Cross, Buechel, Lebanon (return to St. Charles), and Shively.
Sister Cecele retired from active ministry and came to Mount Saint Joseph in 1956. She was soon an invalid suffering from multiple sclerosis. She spent most of her years as a patient in the infirmary with periodic hospitalizations. Sister Cecele died on December 10, 1962. The funeral Mass was celebrated December 12 by Msgr. Albert Thompson, chaplain. In ten below zero temperature, Sister’s remains were carried to the convent cemetery for burial. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Leora.